Multicolor press arrangement



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Jan. 4, 1938. A. M. ZUCKERMAN MULTICOLOR PRESS ARRANGEMENT Filed July 16', 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III Ulllll Patented Jan. 4, 1 93 8 g' I g A Ten .sTATEs oiF.FicE;fI j

,104,065 'IVIU'H'IICOLOR "PRESS ARRANGEMENT Adolph- M. Zuckerman; New 'York, -.N. :Y.,- assignor,

i ruby mesne assignments, 'to R. Hoe-8a Go., Inc., New .York, .N. Y., a corporation of New York .s l Application 'Ju'ly -16, 1934, Serial-No. assess "15 Claims. (01. 401-181) This invention relates to printing machines p u ty d fipr in oui e a n ed to p nt and more particularly to novel means for=driving successively onthe sameside-of a web, and "commultiplep-rinting eouple i e ultilo re pensator rollers interposed :between adjacent mea s for *gu'idingpr directing the "web couples'and'constructed and arranged to engage through-the couples so that the printing couples unprihted Side-0f the I j will print successively on the sa'me side-of the A add a objectof my p es t inventi n b, and th guiding compensating 1 is to provide a multi color printing press having 7 strumentalities positioned, constructed and ara plura ty 0 "Printing 601111168 a nged Q B ranged to engage the unprinted side of the web. a er d driven Om common instru- 10 It is the present practic t k r z mfifll mentality, and {arranged to print successively'on 10 printing couples -in"-a=multi-colorprinting press in 't s m s of a w a d p at r b is superposedrelationL and to provide'guiding and p s d between adjacent ccup and 70011- Q compensator rollers so arranged as to cause the Strllcfied d arranged'ito engage the i p ed Web to Wrap about a'portion-of the peripheryoi ide f t e Webr 515 each impression cylinder, andeach' compensator It is alsc "an objec't f e t n t rm roller'engaging the printed face or side of the i- 'a printing press having jp web. 7 This arrangement is objectionable inasy v0f printing couples hY common much as the compensator rollers engage the drive shaft, and the-pr nt 1 0111 8 'ai afl d I freshly printed inked faceor surface o'f'the "Web, so that certain of "them will be operably position'ed 2'0 thereby smearing the ink-and producing smuts. at onelsid'e off'the driveshaftandpthers operably It is also ajpractice to provide in"multi-c'olor D d h pp d Side; and S rdfive printingpresses; aflarge'impression;cylinder-com- 'comp'on'entslimparting the drive from the drive mon to'a plurality of small plate cy1inders',-and Shaft t "t drivehlcomponehtflf each printing the plate cylinders are driven from-a large gear couple.

@5 carried by or rotatable'with the common'-impres-' AHOthBrA'GD'jEOtOTFthiS invention is 0 P e sion cylinder and meshing with gears carried 'by a multi-color print machine h v p y' or rotatable with the platej' cylinders. f In "ar- '01 "Printing =C0up1es; "and "each pl p rangements where animpre'ssion cylinder is proing'a p e cylinder/rand a p n cy d *vided for each plate'eylinder the yli d r may the axes of these "cylinders coinciding with} or {3} be-driven'through'a plurality-of drivesha'fts. The pp xi y i with, lines planes 3'0 employment of a number 'of separate shafts fo'r radiating from aipoint located at one side of the driving the plate or form c'yimde s bjectio machine-ands, compens'atorroller interposed beable, because the backlash in the gearing and tween adjacent printing couples and adapted'to the torsion set-up in the separate shafts perengage the unprinted side of the web.

mits sufficient play in the drive components to A u j this invention is 170v D f- 3 5' thereby effect the proper registration of 'theweb 'vide "a multi-color printing machine having a in passing through the multiple printing couples. plurality of printing 001111185 arranged t p t An object of my present invention is't'o prosuccessively on the same side of a web, the printvide a multi-color printing press in which a ing couples being arranged above each other, and

340 plurality of printing'couples are driven "from a each 6 1 6 including imDIBSSiOH icylindel 40 common drive shaft, the-drivebeing transmitted n'd' plate y d these Cylinders being sto each printing couple through components havposed'that their axes coincide with, pp ing similar functions, so thatif the drive stresses mately coincide, With lines planes radiating or power isimparted to aprinting couple through from a pointat one side of the printing machine,

245 its impression; cylinder, each of the remaining thevcylinders beingadriven from a common shaft, #4 5 printing couples would also be driven' through it's and a compensating roller adj'ustably positioned impression cylinder. between adjacent printing couples-to engage the Another object of {this invention is to provide unprinted. side ofthe web and having an'adjusta multi-color printing'press in which a plurality ing "movement of sufficient amplitude to' insure 150 of printing couples are employed, theprinting registerwithoutmoving the'webirom the periph- 50, I

couples being'arranged above each other and 'a ery'of adjacent impression cylinders. common vertically disposed drive shaft arranged It'is also anobject of my presentinvention to todrive acylinder of'each couple. provide a printing machine drive and web lead, A further object of my'presentinvention isto guide andcompensator components of generally provide a :multi-color printing press having a improvedconstruction and arrangement whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor' details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention. I g I For a complete disclosure of the invention, a detail description of a printing machine embodying the invention in a preferred form will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein:--

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational View of a multi-color printing press, depicting applicants invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmental elevational View showing the multiple printing couples, common drive instrumentalities, and novel web lead; and

Figure 3 is a fragmental horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, depicting the means for simultaneously adjusting both terminals of a compensator roller.

Referring tothe drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, I and 2 indicate the usual side frame members of a multi-color printing machine, and these members are supported by the usual base or bed plate 3. This bed plate 3, in conformity with the usual practice, may be extended at the right, as viewed in Figure 1, to accommodate a folder or a rewinding device, but, inasmuch as these members form no part of applicants invention, they are not here illustrated; A feed 'roll 5 is operably mounted at the'left end of the frame, as illustrated in Figure 1, and the web W from this rollis led' around suitable guide rollers 6, through tension controlling device I, feed rollers 8, and through a plurality of printing couples P.

Each printing couple includes an impression cylinder I2, having a shaft or trunnions I3 suitably journalled in the side frames I and 2 of the machine. A plate or form cylinder I4 has a similar shaft or trunnions I6 suitably journalled in the side frames I and 2, and the plate cylinder coacts with an impression cylinder 52 of each printing couple P. Each plate cylinder, in conformity with the usual practice, is arranged to operably support suitable printing plates, not shown, to which ink is supplied through the in strumentality of the usual inking mechanism, indicated generally at I 8, which distributes the supply of ink from the conventional ink fountain 28 through the intermediation of the usual doctor roller 22. The impression cylinder I2 and plate cylinder I4 of each printing couple may be suitably geared together so that both cylinders operate with the same peripheral speed, but inasmuch as such gearing is in conformity with the usual practice and iswell understood by those skilled in the art, it is not here illustrated.

The printing couples P are preferably positionedabove each other, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and arrange-d so that their axes actually or approximately coincide with lines or planes radiating from a point located at one side of the machine, for reasons to be hereinafter disclosed. The machine may be driven from any suitable source of power, usually an electric motor, not shown, which drives the horizontally disposed shaft 26 having a bevel gear 27, meshing with a similar gear 28, supported by a vertically disposed shaft 3Il, journalled in suitable bearings 32, carried by the side member I of the machine frame. The impression cylinder I2 of each printing couple P has a suitable gear 34 secured to rotate therewith, and this gear in the present instance is a spiral bevel gear meshing with a similar gear 36, the gears 34 and 35 forming the mating members of a hypoid gear couple.

The radial disposition of the axis of each impression cylinder I2 with relation to the axis of its coacting plate cylinder I4 permits the printing couples P to be arranged so that the impression cylinders of certain of the couples are placed at one side of the vertical shaft 30, and the impression cylinders of other couples positioned at the opposed side of this shaft. In the present arrangement, the upper and lower printing couples P are disposed so that their impression cylinders I2 and driven gears 34 are positioned at the right of the shaft 30, as viewed in Figures 1; and 2, and the intermediate printing couples are disposed so that their impression cylinders I2 and driven gears 34 are positioned at the opposed, or left side, of the shaft 30, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. By this arrangement, the hypoid gear couples drive the printing couples P in synchronism, and inasmuch as this arrangement permits the plate and impression cylinders of the printing couples to be arranged in radial relationship, an advantageous web lead is made possible. Although any preferred web lead may be employed in the arrangement illustrated, the feed rolls 8 and guide roll 6, positioned thereabove, lead the web W between the plate and impression cylinders. of the lower printing couple, then through the intermediate couples and finally between the plate and impression cylinders of the upper printing couples. From this point, the web may be led to a folder, if the product is to be produced in final form, or, if desired, it may be rewound into a roll for subsequent use. Inasmuch as the disposition of the web after passing through the final printing coupleof applicants device is not a part of applicants invention, the means for rewinding or folding the web has not been illustrated. Although the web W, in the present illustration, is depicted as being led from the supply roll 5, over guide roll 6, through tension controlling devices 'I,to the feeding device 8, it is to be understood that this arrangement may be varied, and, if desired, the web may be led, first, to one or more printing couples to print on one side thereof and then led to the printing components of applicants multi-color arrangement here disclosed.

In order to insure that the impression on the web in passing through each successive printing couple P will register with the previous impression or impressions, a compensator roller 40 is positioned between adjacent printing couples P, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and inasmuch as four printing couples are here illustrated, three compensator rollers are consequently shown. It is to be understood, of course, that any preferred number of printing couples may be employed in conformity with applicants arrangement, and, in each instance, one or more compensator rollers are operably positioned intermediate adjacent printing couples, and in the relationship herein disclosed. Each compensator roller is provided with a suitable shaft or trunnions 42, joursameness 'tnalle'dr inibearingtzblocksiafl zslidablyvmounted -z in ..:guide.waysa4fisproyidedzin hezzsideimembers-iliand itiof-cthe :machinecframe; :Each'abearing; blockx'fl tisrproyidedtzwith :a ilateral iboss. :aor :lugyfl, :for; the *threadedzifeceptionzoiVia:.threaded:shat s Each shaft 50 is journalled in bearingsifiz iformedtin the sideiframes {I hand-2 iandzimbearingssfiLiforined -inrbracketimembers 5.6:: illhe fbrackets 156: are-:se

' ccuredfcozthe side members rl :andsZ of thermachine -gears 64 seouitedmto zor-radjacentzzthe opposed w frame by suitable rbolts: or -securing ideyices 158; AiCiiOSSEShdfll 16.0 ismountedainibearingsgflcformed "in :thezibrackets 56;randothis sshaitohas-zbeveled ends thereof; Eachrgearififi zmeshesawith a mat- -ing :gearrfifi, i'carried :by ztheathreaded' shafts 2 50, land ,a :suitaloile.%hand )wheela;,or'imanipulable memberffiasisvsecured'xto :one; terminal iofzra .%'shaft 160,

and 1this1;ishat; f6 0; ",issheldi :against; longitudinal movement relative ,.to: itsgbearing :6-2 by means 10f a collar 10:; andrthehub r1 2--:of cone :of thegears 64. z'lhe othreadedzshafts 15,0. :areilreld iagainstilon- :gitudinalimotion:relative-atortheir 'bearingsil'izgzand 54 by means of a collar ,'l4;;secure.daat:one-atermi- .nal of, each shaft 50,-and;the hub-16 0f :a -bevel gear'BG: v

V As clearl y;shown ;in Figure i2, itheicompensator :rolls hare so vaD10sitioned'iand;arranged that they 'have; a: sliding motion- 0f 1: given: amplitude; but throughout the extent of thiszsliding imotion the .iwebrengagingiportion of eaclsr.compensating-rolla er is alwayamaintained tosthe insidewf, 1tangential lines passing through ithe gripping, pointsgof gadi acent printing couples;anditoihemutsideeof :2. line i Which-is itangential {to ithegperi pherieswof iad j acent impression -cylinders -'-il ,4: this arrangement, each compensaton roller 40 amay-sbe adjusted :to

vary the :length of the .web, W-between adjacent printing couples P sufiiciently I in insure proper tregistration without moving or-pressing .the'gweb from engagement with the periphery/of :the

impression cylinder, {lZ -.o ,f adjacent printing -rollers-relativeito l adjacent printing pqllplfls; .the

webrl-engaging portionof':each roller is defined as 7 ,being; located itooone -gside or 'outside iot -a line which, is tangential to the peripheries Qiwadiaoent impression cylinders, i and it is to "be understood ,that the term outside is tOubE- construed aszth e As hereinbefore disclosed, the Web. be

.led through a printing unit or a'number of .units to print on onesidegthereof-hefore :the' web led through the printing couple- -P disclosed; in this application. In this event, there would be no unprinted side .of the Web, and consequently, the

compensator rollers 40 williengagethe previously printed side ofithe webgbutnot the ifreshlyprinted surface thereof. Thus. it is -.to (be -.,unders to.od that .Whenthe unprinted 'side-of :the zweb isrreferredto inthisapplicatiomit:isito neanzthe sideiwhich V i s is not ,p nte iinyihe a ans mentj o ming the suessssivs on webnaidr vesha tico monito subject :matter 10f ithislapplication. The-. sidetof the :yveb engaged Joy. :the:.. compensatorrollers {40, iin :the: event; the-fweb iscprinted :before it reaches :the disclosed printing couples 11?, will 'be :dry or :nearly,sozbeiorezthe webis engaged by the com- .pensators,ethussavoidingismutsr I Inasmuch as hypoid gears have zthepeculi characteristic Lei-permitting;intermeshing of; gears positioned :inxofiset:relationship; this form? "of gear is.==.prefera'bly" employed .in the present-arrangement', thereby "-zperm'itting certain igofi the drivengears :torbe positioned-at one sidevotia common: shafitlomwhich; drivesgears are arranged, ,and' other; meshingrgears to 1 be positioned at the r-opposedsside -;ofthe same shaft... Eurthermore, :thexjspiral zdisposition of the teeth :of .the: meshed rbevel' gears 34 :and 3.6,: :distributethe drivewor :power impulsesrsolthattheccylinders of the printing couples are driven with uniform peripheral velocity, thereby insuring. uniform printing and obviating gear-streaks rwhich manifests, themiselvesnin. the printing -in'itheform of alternate 7 bands of light and dark impressions.

Although -:'gears 'of the hypoidatype rare prefer- :ablyemployed to drive therprinting cylinders; it isptobe" understood :that other forms may. be advantageously employed, such "as worms: and worm igears, -.or any other types of :efiicient 1 gearingwhich lend: :themselves :to driving sprinting cylinders-positioned at oppiosed :sides :of :a com- "mon shaft ("and driven from the shaft.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as newt'and usefuliinztheqartyisz i :1. In: a printing amachine-ia plurality of ;printing :coup'les constructed and arranged Fto :zprintw'suc- "cessively :onitl're same side pf aZWeb, fa driveshaft common 'topthe printing rcouples a drivengear' operably a secured -Lto a similar component -of each iprinting couple, and aligned :drive igears carried :by :the I .d-rive :shaf t and each drive agear meshi-ng g4o .iwithitheidriuenzgearpf'eachiprinting :coupl'e, the V 'driven'tgears :being positioned at zopposedrsid'es zof vershaftra'nd thedrive gears?!) osition ed :i'al'ly beyondzthe idrivenigears and disposed 'iIJGT- :pendicularlysthereto. l i 22.. I-nia printing machine, saplurality of printing couples constructed and arranged to/rprint successively 'Qnithe same sideco-f'a-iwehteach printing couple including :a :plate cylinder and: :an' imipress'ionzcylinder, iall the impression-.cylinders "being-disposedrat-thelsame side of the plate cylinders, :aadrive sshaftzcomm'onitoithe printing :couples, a "driven gear operably-"secuned gto a corresponding 'cylinder of eachprinting l couple, v and ealigned .driveigears carried ibyatherdriveeshaft-and feach drive gear meshing'with the driven gear of each printing couple} the driven :gears 'being po- I V "129 time impression cylinder qoi ieachprinting ;;cou

;ple, and aligned gdI-iVB gears carried by atheidrive .shaft,"and each drive gear meshing with a driven.

.gear o;f eaich ,printing couple, :the driven gears ,pem positioned at opposed sides vof "the drive shaft axially abeyondfihe, driven ggears and 'dis- ;posedperpendicularlythereto; I

,4. lna printing n'iachine ;a plurality of ,printing icouples constructed and arranged to zprint the printing couples, a hypoid gear operably secured to a similar component of each printing couple, and aligned hypoid drive gears carried by the drive shaft and each drive gear meshing with the driven gear of each printing couple, the driven gears being positioned at opposed sides of the drive shaft.

5. In a printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, constructed and arranged to print successively on a Web, each printing couple including a plate cylinder and an. impression cylinder, a'drive shaft common to the printing couples, a driven hypoid gear operably secured to a corresponding cylinder of each printing couple, and aligned hypoid drive gears carried by the drive shaft and each drive gear meshing with the driven gear of each printing couple,.the driven gears being positioned at opposed sides of the drive shaft.

6. In a printing machine, a plurality of printing couples positioned above each other and constructed and arranged to print successively on the same side of a web, a compensator roller operably interposed between adjacent printing couples and arranged to engage the unprinted side of the web, a drive shaft common to all the printing couples, a driven gear operably secured toa corresponding component of each printing couple, and aligned drive gears carried by the drive shaft, and each drive gear meshing with the driven gear of each printing couple, the driven gears being positioned on opposed sides of the drive shaft.

7. In a printing machine, a plurality of printing couples positioned above each other and constructed and arranged to print successively on the same side of a web, each printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a compensator roller operably interposed between adjacent printing couples and arranged to engage the unprinted side of the web, a drive shaft common to the printing couples, a driven gear operably secured to a corresponding cylinder of each printing couple, and'aligned drive gears carried by the drive shaft and each drive gear meshing with a driven gear, the driven gears being positioned at opposed sides of the drive shaft. V

8. In a printing machine, a plurality of printing couples positioned above each other and constructed and arranged to print successively on the same side of a web, each printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a compensator roller operably interposed between adjacent printing couples and arranged to engage the unprinted side of the web, a drive shaft common to the printing couples, a driven gear operably secured to the impressioncylinder of each printing couple, and aligned drive gears carried by the drive shaft and each drive gear meshing with the driven gear of each impression cylinder, the driven gears and impression cylinders being positioned on opposed sides of the drive shaft,

9. In a printing machine, a plurality of printing couples positioned above each other and constructed and arranged to print successively on the same sideof a web, each printing couple including a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder having their axes positioned to substantially coincide with lines or planes radiating from a point located at one side of the machine, a

compensator roller operably interposed between adjacent printing couples and adapted to engage the unprinted side of a web, a drive shaft'common to the printing couples, a driven gear operably secured to a corresponding cylinder of each printing couple, and aligned drive gears carried by the drive shaft and each drive gear meshing with a driven gear of each printing couple, the driven gears being positioned on opposed sides of the drive shaft.

10. In a printing machine, a plurality of separate printing couples all positioned in superposed relation and constructed and arranged to print successively on the same side of a web, each couple including a plate cylinder and a separate impression cylinder, means for synchronizing the rotation of the plate and impression cylinders in each printing couple, a compensator roller operably'interposed between adjacent printing couples and adapted to guide the web and engage only the unprinted side thereof, a common drive shaft extending in the general direction of the superposed couples, and a plurality of gears operably supported by the drive shaft, each gear arranged to drive a separate printing couple to thereby drive all the printing couples in synchronism.

11. In a printing machine, a plurality of separate printing couples all positioned in superposed relation and constructed and arranged to print successively on the same side of a web, each printing couple including a plate'cylinder and a separate impression cylinder, means for synchronizing the rotation of the plate and impression cylinders in each couple, a compensator roller adjustably interposed between adjacent printing couples and positioned to guide the web and engage only the unprinted side thereof, means for movably adjusting each compensator roller, the adjusting movement of each compensator roller being of such amplitude as to vary the length of the web between adjacent printing couples sufficiently to insure registration without pressing the web from engagement with the adjacent printing cylinders, a common drive shaft extending in the general direction of the superposed couples, and a plurality of gears operably supported by the drive shaft, each gear arranged to drive a separate printing couple to thereby drive all the printing couples in synchronism.

12. In a printing machine, a plurality of separate printing couples positioned above each other in substantially vertical alinement and constructed and arranged to print successively on the same side of a web, each printing couple including a plate cylinder and a separate impression cylinder having their axes positioned to substantially coincide with lines or planes radiating from a point located at one side of all the cylinders, means for synchronizing the rotation of the plate and impression cylinders in each printing couple, a compensator roller operatively interposed between adjacent printing couples and adapted to engage only the unprinted side of the web, each compensator roller being positioned so that its web engaging portion is located outside of a line which is tangential to the periphent plate cylinder and independent impression cylinder having their axes positioned to substantially coincide with lines or planes radiating from a point located atone side of all the cylinders, means for synchronizing the rotation of the plate and impression cylinders in each printing web, each compensator roller having an adjusting motion sufl'icient to insure registration and positioned so that throughout the extent of its adjusting movement its periphery engages the web at a point located outside atangential line passing through the peripheries of adjacent printing cylinders, a common vertically disposed drive shaft,- and a plurality of gears operably sup,-

ported by the drive shaft, each gear arranged to drive a separate printing couple to thereby 1. drive all the printing couples'in synchronism.

14. In a printing machine, a plurality of printing couples arranged in substantially superposed relation, each printing couple including a plate cylinder and an independent impression cylinder,

means for synchronizing the rotation of the plate and impression cylinders in each printing couple,

a gear operably connected to one of the cylinders ofeach printing couple, the plate cylinders supporting suitable printing plates and adapted to print on oneside only of a common web led through the printing couples, a vertically disposed drive shaft common to all the printing couples, a plurality of drive gears operably supported by the drive shaft, each drive gear arranged to mesh with the gear of each printing couple to thereby drive all the printing couples in synchronism, compensating rollers arranged so that at least one roller is operably interposed between adjacent-printing couples to engage the unprinted side of the web, and means for adjusting each compensating roller, the adjusting movement of each compensating roller being of sufiicient amplitude to insure registration without pressing the web from engagement with the adjacent impression cylinders so that the web engages only the nipping portions of the plate cylinder. 7 i

15. In a printing machine, a plurality of separate printing couples disposed in substantially superposed relation and arranged to print successively on the same side of a web, each printing couple including a plate cylinder and-a coacting impression cylinder which is independent of the cylinders of the other couples, the cylinders being arranged so that a plane which passes through the axes of the cylinders of a couple is disposed in angular'relation to a similar plane which passes through the axes of the cylinders of any other couple, thus permitting the web to appreciably wrap around each impression cylinder when guided around the impression cylinders and around points located between couples and outside of planes which are tangential to the peripheral portion of adjacent impression cylin- 'ders, means for synchronizing the rotation of the,

plate and impression cylinders in each printing couple, a gear operably connected to one of the cylinders of each printing couple, a vertically disposed drive shaft common to all the printing couples, and a plurality of drive gears operably supported by the drive shaft, each drive gear arranged to mesh with the gear of each printing couple to thereby drive all the printing couples in synchronism.

' ADOLPH M. ZUCKERMAN; 

